State-first fixed drug test service aims to save lives
Victoria's first fixed pill-testing site will open in Fitzroy, one of Melbourne's most popular nightlife areas, near public transport, health care and social services, following a successful trial during the summer festival period.
The service will offer testing for most pills, capsules, powders, crystals, and liquids and be able to detect highly dangerous synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and Nitazenes, which can be mixed with other drugs and cause death.
The site will launch by August and operate Thursday to Saturday, staffed by Youth Support and Advocacy Service, The Loop Australia, and Harm Reduction Victoria, which also runs mobile testing sites.
Medical support, social services, and secondary and confirmatory testing of substances will also be offered.
The service will also act as real-time surveillance, allowing health authorities to detect and rapidly assess new types of synthetic drugs in circulation.
It comes as the state hailed a successful summer mobile pill testing trial at five music festivals, with the service to continue at five more this summer.
Almost 1400 samples were tested, with MDMA, ketamine and cocaine the main drugs detected and two statewide drug advisories issued.
Two-thirds of service users said it was their first time having a conversation with a health professional about drug harm reduction and more than 30 per cent said they would take a smaller amount.
The service is about saving lives, Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said.
"No drug is safe but with testing and open, health-focused conversations, we are helping Victorians make more informed and safer choices," she said.
Australia's first fixed-site drug checking service opened in Canberra in 2022.
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